Landison Longmen Resort Hangzhou

Ru Yuan stands amid lush vegetation. Though the menu seems to feature familiar dishes like Xihu fish in vinegar sauce or sautéed shrimps with Longjing tea leaves, each one has been extensively fine-tuned and tweaked. The chef’s personal character shines through in the meticulous details. The gold medal braised pork exudes winey aromas; the pork is sliced thinly and shaped into a pagoda for perfect texture and exquisite plating.

Chinese

Full-length windows allow diners to bask in the lush greenery of Xiang Lake. The kitchen is under a white dome with jars of fermented food on a round island, like a place of worship. The set menu showcases modern French cuisine made with local Chinese ingredients, incorporating authentic elements of Hangzhou. Even the dinner rolls are steamed like Chinese buns before being baked.

Getting to L’éclat 19, which nestles in a wooded valley on the southern shore of West Lake, is an experience in its own right. Open for dinner only, it offers two tasting menus that keep pace with the seasons, both signed by chef Olivier Elzer. Gallic classics are given refined Chinese twists – the bread is served with butter infused with Chinese Moutai liquor. The top-notch ingredients are sourced globally, while creative sauces deliver layered flavours.

The sleek, elegant room stands in an osmanthus forest, the sweet scent of which lingers in the air in autumn. Once you set foot inside, the earthy smell of black tea takes over – tea-smoked dishes such as crispy skin chicken exude intoxicating aromas. The menu is dominated by Zhejiang classics made with seasonal ingredients from across the country. Try the river fish cooked with dried bamboo shoot, too. The tea ceremony at each table is quite a spectacle.

Tucked away in a quiet alley, this restaurant in a Chinese garden with stone bridges and ponds only offers eight private rooms. The chef crafts nostalgic, poetically named Jiangnan dishes and shines the spotlight on local Zhejiang favourites. As a starter, diners are served freshly made sweet or savoury soymilk, flanked by a lineup of sides. The signature double-boiled duck soup with cordyceps chanhua is tasty and nourishing.

Close to Lingyin Temple and Amanfayun resort, this rustic-style restaurant has a serene vibe. On the menu, classic Jiangzhe dishes get a refined makeover with some creative and surprising combinations. The signature double-boiled deboned chicken with termite mushrooms is loaded with deep flavours. The signature rice cake in chopped crab sauce is another standout. House-brewed fruit wines, such as bayberry, plum and lychee, are also worth a try.